Kelly McCain Makes Professional Debut At Mecco Cup In Allentown, Pa.

June 12, 2003

ALLENTOWN, PA. - After completing her sophomore season at Duke University, Kelly McCain decided to turn professional and made her debut this week at the Mecco Cup in Allentown, Pa.

The Mecco Cup is part of the United States Tennis Association (USTA) Pro Circuit with a total prize money of $25,000. The tournament is being played at the Westend Racquet Club.

McCain, a two-time Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) All-America, was seeded fifth and was upset in her first professional singles match falling to Jessica Krikland, 7-6, 6-3, on Tuesday. McCain then teamed with former Arizona State standout Adria Engel to win their first doubles match 6-0, 6-7, 6-4 over Michelle Faucher and Ahsha Rolle. The duo will next play on Friday in the second round.

In singles, McCain began the tournament with a ranking of 343. After competing at the Mecco Cup, McCain will then travel to Edmond, Okla. (June 23), Los Gatos/San Jose, Calif. (June 30) and College Park, Md. (July 4) as part of the USTA Pro Circuit.

McCain played two seasons at Duke compiling a 67-11 singles mark and 52-27 doubles ledger. She earned ACC Player of the Year accolades as a sophomore and ACC Freshman of the Year in 2001-02. McCain became the fourth Duke women's tennis player to win a Grand Slam singles title as she won the ITA Riviera All-American in the fall of 2002.

The Tampa, Fla., product finished the 2002-03 campaign with a 35-3 singles mark and 27-1 in dual match action, while registering 15 victories against top 25 ranked players. She advanced to the semifinals of the Omni Hotels National Indoor Championship and became only the fifth Duke player to be ranked No. 1 in singles on Feb. 26. McCain was ranked either No. 1 or No. 2 in the nationally in six of the eight sets of rankings.

McCain led Duke to its first ITA National Team Indoor Championship with four victories at the No. 1 singles position. She teamed with Hillary Adams in doubles and finished with a 25-13 record. The duo were ranked in the top 16 nationally all season long and advanced to the final 16 of the NCAA Doubles Championship before falling to the eventual National Champions Christina Fusano and Raquel Kops-Jones of California (6-2, 6-1).

Head Coach Jamie Ashworth now has had three players leave school early to turn professional-- Ansley Cargill (2001) and Karin Miller (1997). Cargill is currently ranked 90th in the Women's Tennis Association (WTA).

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